Reviews

When We Were Sisters by Fatimah Asghar

mirandaleighhhh's review

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emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes

4.0

This was as devastating as it was beautiful. The writing style is interesting and dynamic, it felt a bit like a diary, but more than that. Three resilient Muslim American sisters, steadfast in their bond, finding home within each other and within themselves as other "homes" crumble away.



"we belong to a people who love the moon  /  yes, a god too- Allah  /  and the trees as well  /  the fabric tied to their branches  /  their roots deep in the ground  /  their arms toward the sky  /  towards her"
"my little ones  /  my sticky children  /  at home the babysitter  /  annoyed I'm not back  /  inshallah  /  they'll know  /  love so much  /  the love leaks  /  out of me  /  dark red  /  on  /  pavement  /  all I can see the moon  /  my blood  /  she's full  /  the streetlamps twinkle"
"We're mothered by everything because we know how to look for the mothering, because we know a mother might leave us and we'll need another mother to step in and take it's place"
"My sisters, my Gods, my mirrors" OUCH OUCH OUCH
"My sister- mother, my other God... God of the night; God of the stars. God of the boombox. God of the wind in her hair"
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megan_watercott's review

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emotional sad medium-paced

4.0

lsparrow's review

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4.0

love this author's story telling. perhaps not usual novel format but it feels like a story of childhood with some memories so detailed and unexplained gaps in others. a story of sisters growing up through orphanhood.

annabelle42688's review against another edition

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dark sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Had to read this after reading their poetry. 

emilywiese's review

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

thelesbianlibrary's review

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

shore's review

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emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

bklvr08's review

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4.0

My friend had recommended me this book because I wanted to get into more literary fiction this year. I told her I would read it and this book was so sad and beautiful written.

fabulousdave's review

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challenging emotional reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

marinaraclara's review

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dark emotional reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0